Former American Airlines CEO Doug Parker is back in the limelight again after he retired from a nearly decade-long career leading the world’s largest airline back in 2021. But now the former airline chief is embarking on a new mission: to attract the next generation of pilots and aviation professionals from so-called ‘underrepresented’ communities.
Joined by his wife Gwen—a former American flight attendant—along with Dana Donati, who previously led United’s Aviate Academy, the trio is debuting a new charity called Breaking Down Barriers. At its core, they say the new charity’s goal is to foster interest, mentorship, and career development for individuals who are otherwise underrepresented in the aviation sector, including minorities and women. The charity’s initial roll-out will focus on pilots, according to Parker.
